Inflatable bed pan

ABSTRACT

An inflatable bed pan is substantially flat so as to be easily implaced under the buttocks of a bed-ridden patient, but is inflatable by a hand operated bulb to provide a semitoroidal shaped member for supporting such buttocks above the bed. A bottom member extends across the torus and forms a closed receptacle. The torus is interrupted to provide an exit passage, and a flap is associated with said exit passage for opening or closing the exit passage. Air inlet and air outlet means for inflating and deflating the device are also disclosed. The semitoroidal member is provided with a ring of foam rubber on its upper and inner sides.

United States Patent 1191 Oliver Nov. 19, 1974 1 i INFLATABLE BED PAN[76] Inventor: Janet Oliver, 428 N. Kenwood, ""T' Hucke" AssistantExammer-Stuart S. Levy Glendale, Callf. 91206 Attorney, Agent, orFlrmLyon and Lyon [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1973 211 App]. No.: 387,303 [571ABSTRACT An inflatable bed pan is substantially flat so as to be easilyimplaced under the buttocks of a bed-ridden paa t a a I a n a d l 1 5 8vide a semitoroidal shaped member for supporting l o 25 l such buttocksabove the bed. A bottom member extends across the torus and forms aclosed receptacle. The torus is interrupted to provide an exit passage,[56] References cued and a flap is associated with said exit passage forUNITED STATES PATENTS opening or closing the exit passage. Air inlet andair 1,362,751 12/1920 Snyder 4/1 [3 outlet means for inflating anddeflating the device are 2,750,600 6/ 1956 MacDonald a 4/113 alsodisclosed. The semitoroidal member is provided COUICI' a ring of foamrubber on upper and inner 3,514,793 6/1970 West 4/113 Sides 3,546,717l2/l970 Kuhn 4/113 3,628,197 12/1971 7 Claims, 7 Drawing FiguresLeventhal 4/113 l INFLATABLE BED PAN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONInflatable bed pans have been disclosed heretofore,

but have failed to come into common usage for one reason or another. Themain reason for the failure of the various prior art devices to findpopularity, is that they are not primarily concerned, as is the presentinvention, with the comfort of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. A is a view taken along the lines5-5 of FIG. 2

sure flap in sealed condition.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 2. i

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT Referring now moreparticularly. to the drawings, 10 indicates themain portion of theinvention and is a generally semitoroidal shaped member formed ofrubber, synthetic rubber or any elastic plastic material from which aninflatable-deflatable tube may be made.

inner'sides of member 10 as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and serves asa wedge between the patient and direct contact with the pan. A sheet 12of the same material as forms the member 10 stretches across the bottomof the device and makes it water-tight, a secondsheet of elasticmaterial 13 also is stretched across the bottom and reinforces thesheet12.,A ring 14 of foam rubber 2 In this condition it is stored and whenit is desired to put it in use, it can be slid under a patient with aminimum of effort. Once in place, it is inflated by use of thesqueeze-bulb 21, with the flap 19 closing when pressure is built-up inthe member 10. After use it may be partially deflated through tube 22,the deflation beingcontrolled by pinch valve 23. The partially deflateddevice is then removed, emptied through opening 15, flap 16 beingopened. After washing and drying the flap is put FIG. 5B is a viewsimilar to FIG. 5showing the cloback into its original place, then thedevice is ready for reuse or storage.

While there has been described what at present is considered'a preferredembodiment of the presentinvention, it will be obvious to those skilledin the art that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the essence of the invention.-

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable bed pan comprising: asemitoroidal shaped airtightmember having a bottom member stretched thereacross to close the bottomof the semitoroidal member; said semitoroidal member being interruptedat one point in its circumference to form a single discharge passage; aflap attached to said semitoroidal :member for closing said dischargepassage said flap having locking means adjacent the extendedend thereof,.closure' means carried by said semitoroidal A ring 11 of foam rubber isattached to the upper and v means comprises an air tube adapted tocommunicatefor closing said air tube when said device is affixed to thesheet 13 for the purpose of preventing the device from sliding.v v Thesemitoroidal member 10 is interrupted as at 15, and a flap l6 normallystretches across the gap 15 and is held in closed position by buttons 17located on either side of the discharge opening, whereby said buttonscooperate with receiving means 24in the extended end of the flap 16asshown in FIG. 4. When the flap 16 is opened, the gap 15 permitsthecontents of the device to be removed. 1 Means for inflating the member10 may consist of an inflating tube 18, normally closed by a flap 19formed in the wall of member 10. The flap 19 is held in sealing positionby 'air pressure in the member 10 (FIG. 5B). When it is desired toinflate the member 10 the tube 20 leading to a squeeze-bulb 21 isattached to tube 18. The squeeze-bulb 21 is like the one on a physicianssphyg momanometer and forms no part of the inventive concept.

For deflation of the device another opening is made in the member 10 anda tube 22 normally closed by pinch valve 23 is attached therein. (SeeFIG. 6.)

The device is normally deflated and substantially flat.

member on either side of said discharge passage and being adapted tocooperatewith said locking means to secure said flap in passage closingposition; a ring of foam material attached to said semitoroidal memberwhich serves as a wedge between the patient and direct contact with thepan; means for filling said member with air, and means for controllablydeflating said member.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said filling with asqueeze-bulb and a flap attached to said air tube has built upsufficient air pressure'therein. I 3. A device as set forth in claim 1in which said means for controllably deflating comprises a deflatingtube and a pinch valve for selectively controlling said deflat ing tube.l

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said filling meanscomprises an air tube adapted to communicate with a squeeze-bulb and aflap attached to said air tube for closing said air tube when saiddevice has built up sufficient air pressure therein and means forcontrollably deflating comprises a deflating tube and a pinch valve forselectively controlling said deflating tube.

5. A device as set, forth in claim 1 in which the upper and innerportion of said semitoroidal member is provided with said .ring of foammaterial.

6. A device asset forth in claim 1 in which said filling means comprisesan air tubeadapted to communicate with a squeeze-bulb and a flapattached to said air tube for closing said air tube when said device hasbuilt up sufiicient air pressure therein, the upper and inner portion ofsaid semitoroidal member is provided with said ring of foam material.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said ring of foam materialis constructed of foam rubber.

1. An inflatable bed pan comprising: a semitoroidal shaped airtightmember having a bottom member stretched thereacross to close the bottomof the semitoroidal member; said semitoroidal member being interruptedat one point in its circumference to form a single discharge passage; aflap attached to said semitoroidal member for closing said dischargepassage said flap having locking means adjacent the extended endthereof, closure means carried by said semitoroidal member on eitherside of said discharge passage and being adapted to cooperate with saidlocking means to secure said flap in passage closing position; a ring offoam material attached to said semitoroidal member which serves as awedge between the patient and direct contact with the pan; means forfilling said member with air, and means for controllably deflating saidmember.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said filling meanscomprises an air tube adapted to communicate with a squeeze-bulb and aflap attached to said air tube for closing said air tube when saiddevice has built up sufficient air pressure therein.
 3. A device as setforth in claim 1 in which said means for controllably deflatingcomprises a deflating tube and a pinch valve for selectively controllingsaid deflating tube.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which saidfilling means comprises an air tube adapted to communicate with asqueeze-bulb and a flap attached to said air tube for closing said airtube when said device has built up sufficient air pressure therein andmeans for controllably deflating comprises a deflating tube and a pinchvalve for selectively controlling said deflating tube.
 5. A device asset forth in claim 1 in which the upper and inner portion of saidsemitoroidal member is provided with said ring of foam material.
 6. Adevice as set forth in claim 1 in which said filling means comprises anair tube adapted to communicate with a squeeze-bulb and a flap attachedto said air tube for closing said air tube when said device has built upsufficient air pressure therein, the upper and inner portion of saidsemitoroidal member is provided with said ring of foam material.
 7. Adevice as set forth in claim 1 in which said ring of foam material isconstructed of foam rubber.